If you were trying to have a baby using a surrogate mother, I hope you didn't turn to SurroGenesis for help. If you did, odds are your money is gone.
According to the New York Times, SurroGenesis' main office in California is closed, and many of the 60 locations they listed on their web site were P.O. boxes. According to the Times, the company emailed clients on March 13 "that their money was gone." How much? About $2 million, according to lawyers, "with some couples losing as much as $90,000."
The thing is, the Surrogenesis website is still active as of this writing. Although the Times calls the site "impressive," there are a few red flags:
Adoption: Can their be a genetic relationship between parent and child? Rarely.
(emphasis added)
Um, proofread much?
Some potential parents lost a lot of money, but even worse are the ones who lost all their money and were already involved with a surrogate. (Note: this is all "allegedly", using the Times article as a source.) Attorney Andrew W. Vorzimer (representing former Surrogenesis customers) says that one surrogate mother is 33 weeks pregnant, confined to bed rest, and facing eviction since she is unable to work or pay her rent. The couple she was carrying the twins lost $50,000, and they can't help her.
The article also points out that "There is no licensing requirement for egg donor and surrogate brokers." Maybe after this story, there will be.
Source: NY Times
Image: Surrogenesis (please don't give them money, since they allegedly took lots from people already)
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